A Memorable Trip to Puglia: Sarracenia Treasures and Italian Hospitality
In October 2025, Alice, Luca, and I took a trip to Puglia, Italy. Our friend Antonio Fumarola had offered us a private tour of his greenhouse. I first met Antonio at the Italian Carnivorous Plant Meeting in Viterbo in 2024, and this trip was a chance to catch up, see his plants, and soak in a bit of Puglia.
A Legendary Sarracenia Collection
Antonio's collection is legendary among Sarracenia growers. His greenhouse holds some of the most sought after plants around, including South Winds, with bright, ruffled pitchers; Bloody Punch, a deep, dramatic dark red; Dionne, with unreal color saturation; and Black Sheer, sleek and dark.
Sarracenia South Winds
Sarracenia Bloody Punch (left), Dwarf Waccamaw (right)
Sarracenia Dionne
Sarracenia Black Sheer
One of my favorites is a plant Antonio calls S. Delirium Nocturnum, with a huge gaping mouth and striking red and white pitchers.
Me holding S. Stanya, and Antonio holding his creation, S. Delirium Nocturnum
Row After Row of Standouts
Walking through his greenhouse, every bench had something worth stopping for. You can tell how carefully Antonio grows and selects his plants, and how well he knows them.
Templar Cross from Carnivore 4 Mori
As we walked, Antonio told us about his recent trip to Malaysia to see carnivorous plants in their native habitat. His stories of trekking through tropical forest to find wild Nepenthes were as inspiring as his Sarracenia. It's a good reminder of how these plants connect growers all over the world.
A Taste of Puglia
After an evening in the greenhouse, Antonio treated us to a real Puglian dinner: local sausage, grilled meats, crusty Puglian bread, and perfectly roasted potatoes, with a lot of laughs and stories that made us feel right at home. For me, it was a highlight of the trip.
Dinner in Puglia: local sausage, roasted meats, bread, and potatoes
More Than Plants
This visit was about more than rare Sarracenia and great food. It was about the friendships this hobby builds. Puglia's sunny hills, Antonio's plants, and his hospitality will stay with us for a long time.
Follow Antonio on Instagram: @delirio_carnivoro
Want to see the tallest Sarracenia I've ever come across? Read about my visit with Alberto Bossi.
Sarracenia Blood in the Snow
Sarracenia Atlas 5 x L57mk
S. Chakra Mad, H130
Sarracenia Premysl Otakar I x Adrian Slack Clone B
S. oreophila x 'Leah Wilkerson' Clone 19 (Alberto Bossi)
S. areolata 'Winter Time' x 'Helmut's Delight' (Luciano Ungaro)
S. October Hope
Sarracenia Mirage (Alberto Bossi)
Antonio's seed grown cross, not yet named
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Happy Growing
Jeremiah Harris
Jeremiahsplants.com